Joining New Song

After much trepidation, prodding from God, and the slow pace of the New Song administrators, I will officially join the church this Sunday.

I was asked some questions to be apart of the new members bulletin. One was "what is your favorite verse/passage in the Bible?" And of course, me being one w/ 100s of favorites, had a hard time answering this. I still am not really capable of responding but this is one of my favs: along w/ anything else Apostle Paul says. I love the imagery of nature's birth pains in waiting for the return of Christ to right the wrong that was created at the beginning of time by the entrance of sin. So beautiful....and that we also yearn, ALL of us, believers and nonbelievers. Everyone is trying to fill that void, that yearning inside them. Some use drugs, alcohol, sex, work, relationships, pets, etc....yet those things always fall short. We yearn for the righting of the same wrong that nature does. Who brings completion? Who can quench this yearning? Well, the one who started it all, of course. The creator of all things, the Holy Magnificent Father God, his Son the Redeemer, and the Spirit our gracious Counselor...the fantastic Trinity.

God be praised. Amen.

Romans 8:18-28
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.